Writer's Block: Blast to the past
What I would tell my 10 year old self would change the entire course of my life. And really, if my 10 year old self followed the first bit of advise, then the rest of what I would tell myself would become a moot point. It would also mean that my best friend, whom I consider my sister, I would never have met. I'd never have met the father of my daughter, my mother wouldn't have met her last two ex-husbands. The very last being the father of my little sister, so my little sister probably wouldn't be in this world either. Gods only know how it may or may not have changed my brother's course in life. It definitely would change my mother's course in life, she may have stayed in college then instead of going back 16 years later.
I was 10 years old in 1992, I'd just moved to NY about 4 months prior to my birthday.
The first thing I'd tell my 10 year old self, is that in 2 years, when mum says 'lets go back to FL', say no. Tell her you want to stay, tell her you don't want to leave school, tell her you don't want to leave your friends. Leaving Florida was a downward slide for everyone for a long time. Granted in 1996 I started high school and got into ROTC and then in 1998 I met my 'sister' and all of that was great. But staying in NY, staying in NY schools would have been a better education than florida schools.
In the event you still end up in Florida without going to Alabama in 1997 - Do NOT under any circumstances date Greg. Do not get engaged to him, do not even give him a second glace. He is bad news for you.
When you get the acceptance to UNF, tell mum, and make sure you go!
If you still go to Alabama in 1997, tell mum and dad to put you in Pensacola schools! Alabama ROTC sucks, Pensacola is so much better and will keep you from spending two months living with gram and being miserable. Sadly, this route also has me never meeting my 'sister', but in the long run, it would have been better for all concerned.
Points to never forget no matter what:
- never give up, never quit. You can do anything you set your mind to
- GO TO LAW SCHOOL!
- Do not get pregnant at 19!
- Exercise is good, carbs are bad...do not eat to make yourself feel better! It doesn't work. (I've mentally turned off my hunger gauge, it doesn't go off anymore, so now I forget to eat).
- Any opportunity to travel, take it!
- Never stop talking to dad, birthday cards are not worth getting that pissed off over. You'll lose too much time with dad and the grandparents if you do.
What I would regret most about changing my course in life is not knowing Brin. She has been my sister for the last 13 years, not knowing her would be very sad. We helped each other through many thing, still do to this day. I would miss having my daughter, but it would be better to have her later in life than 19 or even my early 20's. I would miss my sister, my blood sister, she's the only blood sister I have. I would hope changing one of two moves, changing at least one of those outcomes would be better for my momma. That she wouldn't lose her "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out" attitude.
Life is what we make it. Whether there are things we would change or not, we have to learn to be content with where we are and who we are. And if there's something we don't like, get off our asses and do something about it!